Schultz blasts Trump

Wasserman Schultz blasts Trump from inside the arena

By Nick Gass

Steps away from the stage where the Republican National Convention was kicking into full swing, Democratic National Committee Chairwoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz laced into Donald Trump on live television Monday as "the most divisive, bigoted, unprepared, unqualified major-party candidate that has ever run."

"And that's the contrast that we're going to draw. Whatever is said on this stage tonight and through this week, Donald Trump can't run away from his horrific personal and business record," the Florida Democratic lawmaker told CNN's Wolf Blitzer, who noted that Republicans would work to cast Hillary Clinton in much the same light next week in Philadelphia.

Wasserman Schultz remarked upon Trump's business bankruptcies, alleged discrimination and Trump University lawsuits, adding, "The list goes on and on of Donald Trump and how he's cheated everyone he's ever dealt with.

"We're certainly going to outline why Hillary Clinton is the most qualified and prepared candidate for president of the United States that we've had, and that she's going to continue to help us move forward and help the middle class and build on the economic progress we've made, but that will be a stark contrast to the divisiveness, to Donald Trump, who has said throughout this campaign that he would ban an entire religion, preventing Muslims from coming into the country," Wasserman Schultz said. "He began his campaign, Wolf, if you remember, by declaring Mexicans rapists and drug dealers. He said that he would consider developing a database to register Muslims. I mean, this is a man who has really no concept of what American democracy or any concept of the Constitution and fairness."

Regarding Democrats' unity following Bernie Sanders' endorsement of Clinton last week, Blitzer remarked that "a lot of" people have said they will vote for a third-party candidate or not vote at all. Wasserman Schultz brushed it off.

"Well, I think the overwhelming majority of our supporters of both Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders are coming together. We were thrilled to have Sen. Sanders join us endorsing Hillary Clinton last week," she said. "His supporters are already being incorporated into our campaign as organizers and as neighborhood team leaders and field staff. And we are a united party."

The Democratic Party, Wasserman Schultz continued, will "be united going into Philadelphia, unlike here in Cleveland." She noted the absence of Republican Ohio Gov. John Kasich.

"And for example, none of my South Florida Republican colleagues are here," she said. "I'm actually the only federal official from South Florida here in Cleveland at the Republican National Convention because my three colleagues had no interest in being anywhere near this convention or associating themselves with Donald Trump's toxic brand. "